Staple driver



y3 19 5 M. L. ALDRICH 2,701,271

STAPLE DRIVER Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Max L.A/dr/'ch INVENTOR.

y 3, 1955 M. L. ALDRICH 2,707,277

STAPLE DRIVER Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F lg. 2 20 34 36 v I6 4 24 42 a8 a 32 l 3 /l2/ WW 9 4 5 Fig. 3 /02 14 Fig. 4 31s 7- 2 4 .90

V 1 Max ILA/drich INVENTOR 4 u Ix United States Patent Ofiice Patented May 3, 1955 STAPLE DRIVER Max L. Aldrich, Fitchburg, Mass., assignor of one-third to George E. Brown and one-third to Everett H.

' Dudley, both of Fitehburg, Mass.

Application Aug. 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,571

Claims. (Cl. 1--44.4)

This invention relates generally to staple driving machines and pertains more particularly to an improved form thereof.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of staple driver which is constructed of a minimum number of parts and whose mode of construction is such as to lend a maximum of rigidity and ruggedness, together with a maximum of efficiency, to the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of staple driver which incorporates improved means for automatically feeding the staples into operative position.

'. Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for interconnecting various component parts of the stapler which readily lends itself to simplicity and ruggedness, resulting in increased life and depend ability.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stapling mechanism;

through the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of. Figure 2 showing details of the driving assembly on an enlarged scale;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken 7;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2 showing further details of construction;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5--5 in Figure 2 showing details or" the magazine assembly on an enlarged scale;

assembly shown in Figure 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawin s, refer- I B cnce numeral indicates generally the main body portion of the machine which includes the hand grip portion 12 and the depending cylinder portion 14 at the forward end thereof. The handle is provided with a longitudinal bore 16 which is internally threaded at its rear end to receive the connector 18 for the flexible line 20 which may be connected to any suitable source of compressed air. The forward end of the handle member is provided with the transverse vertical bore 22 which receives the valve bushing 24 which, in turn, is provided with a longitudinal bore slidably receiving the valve body 26. The upper end of the bore 22 is provided with a suitable closure member 28 and associated gasket 30 for preventing leakage of compressed air.

The upper end of the bushing 24 is provided with an enlarged chamber 32 and the upper end of the valve body 26 has an annular washer 34 and a resilient gasket 36 secured thereto, as by heading over the upper free end of the valve body in the manner shown, the gasket 36 normally seating against the upper face of the bushing 24 to seal the chamber 32 from the bore 16 which is directly in communication with the source of compressed air. If desired, a suitable tensioning means, such as a spring disposed between the closure member 28 and the annular washer 34 may be provided for maintaining the gasket 36 in proper sealing engagement with the bushing 24. The bushing 24 is provided with a lateral opening 38 in registry with a bore 40 intersecting with the vertical bore 42 which communicates with the interior of the cylinder member 14.

The lower end of the valve body 26 extends outwardly of the bushing 24 and the trigger assembly indicated generally by the reference character 44 engages thereagainst and moves the valve body upwardly within the bushing 24 when the trigger is squeezed and pivoted about its pivot pin member 46, as will be readily apparent.

The handle 12 is also provided with a longitudinal bore 48 extending generally parallel with the previously described bore 16 and this latter bore is adapted to frictionally receive one end of a tubular member indicated generally by the reference character 50 which provides a combined sheath tube assembly and connector between the handle 12 and the magazine assembly indicated generally by the reference character 52. In this respect, it will be noted that the tubular member 59 projects rearwardly from the handle member 12 and, being of J -shaped configuration, loops around for connection at its free end to the rearward end of the magazine assembly 52.

The valve bushing 24 is provided with a lateral opening 54 communicating with the interior of the tubular member 56 and the valve body 26 is provided with a portion of reduced diameter in registry with this opening when the valve body is in the closed position. The shoulder on the valve body 26 immediately below the reduced portion will effectively seal the tubular member 50 from the source of compressed air when the valve body is moved upwardly to the open position.

The magazine assembly 52 includes a housing member indicated generally by the reference character 56, see particularly Figures 9 and 10, which is of U-shaped configuration in cross-section and whose bight portion 58 y provides a rest for the stapling assembly for engagement with the surface of the material to be stapled. The housing also includes the vertical side flanges 60 between which a staple track member is disposed. The track is also of U-shaped configuration in cross-section and its bight portion 62 is secured to the inner surface of the bight 58 and its spaced upright legs 64 are disposed in spaced parallel relation to the flanges or legs 60 of the housing, as shown most clearly in Figure 5. A staple pusher 66 of inverted U-shaped configuration in crosssection is disposed in straddling relation to the upper ends of the legs 64 of the track, and this pusher is slidable therealong to urge the series of cohered staples 68 toward the forward end of the magazine assembly, as will be readily apparent. The pusher 66 is also provided with an upstanding pin member 70 for the purpose of manually moving the pusher along the track, and the undersurface of the pusher is rigidly connected to a bar 72 whose free end is connected to the flexible element 74 which preferably takes the form of a coil spring whose coils are disposed in closed relation. The flexible element 74 extends slidably within the tubular member 50 and terminates in the upper horizontal portion thereof where it is attached to the piston member 76 for a purpose presently apparent.

As shown most clearly in Figure 8, a cover member 78 is provided for the housing 56 and is adapted to overlie the open top thereof in the manner shown in Figure 2, the cover being provided with a longitudinally extending slot 80 which continues into its depending end portion 82 which forms a stop for engagement with the rear face of the housing 56. A handle member is provided adjacent the forward end of the cover 78, and this handle includes the depending flange portions 34 adapted to straddle the housing for guiding the cover thereon, and the upper intermediate portion of the handle is looped as at 86 to allow free passage of the pin 70 on the pusher 66 thereunder.

Referring now more particularly once again to Figure 2, it will be seen that the cylinder 14 is provided with a cup-shaped piston 88 which is slidably disposed therein and it will be seen that the plug or abutment member indicated generally by the reference character 90 is disposed in the free end of the cylinder and is suitably pinned thereto, as by the members 92 extending through the transverse bores 94 in this plug. As seen most clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the plug member 90 is provided with a longitudinal slot which receives the upstanding forward end portion 98 of the housing member 56 which 'is, in turn, provided with a longitudinal groove 100 guidably receiving the driver blade lltl2 pinned to the plunger 104 disposed within the piston 88. The upper end of the plunger 104 is provided with an annular flange which provides a seat for the compression spring 106 whose lower end is engaged against the upper surface of the plug 90. A portion of the plug 94) is cut away adjacent the free end of the track in the magazine assembly so as to provide a depending lip portion 198 incorporating a beveled face 110 and an angled threaded bore receiving the set screw member 112 engaging against the portion 98 of the housing 56 to secure these members together, as will be manifest. In this manner, it will be seen that the magazine assembly is rigidly secured to the remainder of the assembly, both at the forward and rear portions thereof.

In operation of the device, it will be seen that the handle 12 is gripped with one hand of the operator and the assembly is placed on the surface to be stapled, whereupon the trigger assembly 44 is manipulated to reciprocate the piston 88 downwardly within cylinder 14 so as to extend the staple driver 192 beyond the plug member 90 to drive an associated end staple into the material. In this respect, it will be noted that the free end of the track is spaced a predetermined distance from the inner face of the forward end portion 98 of the housing 56 equal to the thickness of one staple, as seen most clearly in Figure 2. When the trigger assembly 44 is released and the gasket 36 is seated upon the bushing 24, the coil spring 106 will urge the piston 88 upwardly within the cylinder 14 and expel air outwardly therefrom through the bores 40 and 42 into the upper end of the tubular member 50, thus forcing the piston 76 to the right in Figure 2 to impart force to the pusher 66 through the medium of the flexible element 74 sufficient to express the next staple into position for driving by the driver member 102. It will be manifest that it is not necessary to maintain a steady pressure on the piston 76 to ensure proper positioning of the next staple inasmuch as the flexible element 74 will bind sufficiently in the looped portion of the tubular member 50 to maintain the proper position of the staple even if the machine is subsequently violently agitated or dropped.

When it is desired to replenish the supply of staples within the magazine, it is merely necessary to grasp the handle member of the cover 78, the looped portion 86 thereof providing a convenient grip therefor, and move the cover assembly rearwardly on the housing until it is in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, loosely suspended on the tubular member 50. This, of course, is possible since the slot 89 in the cover member is of slightly greater diameter than the tubular member 50. The pin 79 is then moved rearwardly to slide the pusher 6d rearwardly on the track to permit a new stick of staples to be inserted on the track, as is well understood. Then, the parts are assembled in their former positions. It will be noted that the forward end 114 of the cover assembly '78 is adapted to be frictionally engaged between the lower surface of the plug 9 and the upper edge of the flanges 60 of the housing assembly 56 so as to assure proper positioning of the cover.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stapling machine comprising a handle member adapted for connection to a source of compressed air, a magazine disposed in spaced relation to said handle, means interconnecting said magazine and said handle, said magazine including a staple track, an abutment member disposed in closely spaced relation to the free end of said track, a staple driving assembly reciprocably carried by said handle member and including an element movable between an initial retracted position and a projected position for driving the end staple in a series of staples disposed on said track into an associated surface, said end staple being in engagement with said abutment member, means including a manually operable valve for moving said element from its retracted to its projected position, means for returning said element to its initial position, and pressure responsive means automatically actuated by the means for returning said element to its initial position for positioning the next staple in said series in engagement with said abutment member, said means interconnecting said handle and said magazine constituting a tubular member, and said means for positioning the next staple including a piston slidable in said tubular member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for positioning the next staple also includes a flexible member slidable in said tubular member and includes opposite ends respectively connected to said piston and a staple feed element disposed on said track.

3. A stapling machine comprising a handle member adapted for connection to a source of compressed air, a magazine disposed in spaced relation to said handle, said handle having a cylinder member extending toward said magazine, a plug disposed within the end of said cylinder adjacent said magazine, said plug including a slot communicating with the interior of said cylinder member, said magazine including a housing having an end portion positioned within the slot in said plug and having a groove extending parallel with said slot, a staple driving assembly reciprocably mounted in said cylinder member and including a staple driver guidably received in said groove.

4. The combination or" claim 3 wherein said magazine also includes a staple track, and means for automatically maintaining the end staple in a series of staples disposed on said track within the groove in said housing end portion.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said handle member is provided with a manually actuated valve for moving said staple driver in one direction longitudinally of said groove for driving the associated end staple, means for moving said staple driver in an opposite direction, and means actuated in response to movement of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chase Mar. 30, 1886 6 Randall Dec, 12, 1933 Kendall July 20, 1948 Juilfs Feb. 19, 1952 Juilfs Feb. 19, 1952 Cristiano Jan. 20, 1953 

